Tidal energy call

BALLYCASTLE SDLP councillor Dónal Cunningham has called for the Assembly to match the ambition of the Scottish Government with regard to support for tidal energy projects.

Councillor Cunningham said: “The Scottish Government have recently announced that they are providing £3 million to expand tidal energy testing facilities as well as a £1.1 million project to assess the way that support vessels are used to install and maintain wave and tidal devices.

“I am a keen supporter of the two tidal energy projects due for Fair Head and Torr Head but we need to accelerate growth and generate further private investment in this sector.

“The Fair Head and Torr Head projects are only a number of miles from similar Scottish projects in the Western Isles, it is important that we match the ambition of our near neighbours who have positioned themselves as world leaders in the tidal energy sector.”